Transmigrated as the Future Movie Queen's Arch-Nemesis - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The following day, Su Mi felt out of sorts all day.

She couldn’t quite describe the feeling; physically she was fine, but her heart felt uncomfortable.

Where was this discomfort coming from?

Was it because she had previously been a reader, only understanding Xin Keke from the angle the author chose to show? Was it that now, facing a peer’s genuine talent, the feeling of being crushed made her unable to lift her head?

But she had been a corporate slave for several years, working in the art industry no less. She was used to seeing talent. Moreover, acting wasn’t her original profession; there was no reason for her mindset to be so unbalanced.

Or was it because Su Mi knew that even a girl as gifted as Xin Keke remained powerless against capital, losing out to a nepotism hire like herself?

She clearly didn’t know how to act, yet people were fighting to hand her opportunities. But what about Xin Keke? She was an orphan; she had no parents or ancestors to rely on. Everything she wanted, she had to fight for herself.

Perhaps it was this sense of disparity that sent Su Mi into a brief period of confusion.

Even though she understood deeply the truth that “hard work does not guarantee luck.”

As a result, she didn’t take the initiative to harass Xin Keke at all the next day. When she went to the restroom and saw someone who looked like Xin Keke, she instinctively avoided them.

After thinking for a whole day, Su Mi finally seemed to understand one thing:

She hadn’t done anything wrong, so why was she hiding from Xin Keke?

This was just the world of a novel; everything was fake. Once she helped Xin Keke reach the position of Movie Queen, she would return to the real world, and everything here would have nothing to do with her.

What was the point of agonizing over fictional people and events?

Of course, if she failed and couldn’t go back, that would be a different story.

Having figured this out, Su Mi decided to wait until after work, when everyone had left, to ask Xin Keke out for dinner.

She hadn’t farmed any favorability points all day; would Xin Keke have forgotten her by now?

Probably not, probably not.

She also planned to tell Xin Keke that she would be joining a film crew soon and wouldn’t be able to accompany her.

While Xin Keke would likely think of this as good news, Su Mi still intended to ask—without much hope—if Xin Keke would be willing to submit an audition video to this crew. Perhaps she could help her.

What if it worked?

After all, Xin Keke liked acting, didn’t she?

Waiting until most people had left, Su Mi searched through the rooms one by one but could not find Xin Keke anywhere.

That wasn’t right. Could it be that because she worked late last night, Xin Keke went home early today?

Unable to find that familiar face anywhere made Su Mi doubt her judgment. She asked several colleagues, but none of them said they had seen Xin Keke.

Only the makeup room on the eighth floor remained.

She walked over slowly, and without much hope, she gripped the handle and began to turn it.

Suddenly, she felt a force coming from the other side of the handle.

Before Su Mi could react, the door was pulled open.

She let go. The person who stepped out was not Xin Keke, but Xia Lei, whom she had embarrassed yesterday.

The moment Xia Lei saw Su Mi, her expression became very awkward. She bared her teeth in a smile, said nothing, and stepped aside to leave.

Su Mi suddenly called out: “Teacher Xia, wait a moment.”

Xia Lei flinched involuntarily.

Su Mi turned around. After thinking it over, she decided to speak clearly with Xia Lei: “Teacher Xia, I should apologize for yesterday. Although I don’t agree with your methods, I didn’t control my temper and lashed out at you.”

No wonder the other girl looked so awkward seeing her today. After being humiliated by her yesterday, it would be strange if she had a friendly face today.

However, Su Mi wasn’t so cynical as to look down on Xia Lei and the others just because they were “cannon fodder.” Things that needed to be said should be said clearly.

If she decided her attitude toward others based solely on their importance in the original work, then what difference was there between her and the original cannon fodder bullies?

“It’s fine, it’s fine.”

Xia Lei seemed startled. After repeating “it’s fine” several times, she ran off, appearing as though she didn’t want to say another word to Su Mi.

Su Mi sighed. She had said what needed to be said; whether the other person accepted it was their business.

She pushed the door open and entered the makeup room.

Unfortunately, Xin Keke was not inside.

Well, there was nothing to be done. If Xin Keke had truly finished work, she couldn’t exactly grab her by the head and drag her back.

Su Mi pulled out her phone and instinctively wanted to send Xin Keke a message, but when she searched on WeChat, there was no such person.

No way. They were colleagues, yet they didn’t even have each other on WeChat?

Su Mi was exasperated. She opened her contacts, attempting to find any clue related to Xin Keke, but it was in vain.

After much effort, she finally found Xin Keke’s account in the large company group chat.

Su Mi clicked on Xin Keke’s profile page.

Xin Keke’s profile picture was a cow cat with big eyes, looking very well-behaved. This was not at all what Su Mi expected.

She had thought Xin Keke would use her own photo as a profile picture; after all, wasn’t she beautiful?

At the bottom of the profile was a large button: “Add to Contacts.”

Su Mi thought about it and sent a friend request.

Although it was most likely that Xin Keke would ignore her, if they actually connected, wouldn’t that be a huge step for their relationship?

Having done this, Su Mi tossed her phone onto the vanity, propped her cheeks in her hands, and let out a sigh of resignation.

Who knows where Xin Keke was now.

Maybe she’d wait a bit longer and then go home.

Just as Su Mi was sitting in the makeup room with a blank stare, not yet sure of her next move, the door was suddenly pushed open from the outside.

Su Mi didn’t look back. The newcomer apparently didn’t expect anyone to be there at this hour, as their footsteps paused.

“Sorry, I’m leaving now—”

Su Mi turned and stood up, only to lock eyes with Xin Keke.

In that instant, Su Mi felt like she had found a path through the darkness.

“Xin Keke!” she said happily. “I looked everywhere for you. Where were you?”

Xin Keke was clutching a small bag, the contents of which were unknown. Seeing Su Mi, she was also quite surprised, but she quickly masked it with a cold expression: “What are you looking for me for?”

From Xin Keke’s expression, Su Mi could clearly read the words: “It certainly isn’t anything good.”

But seeing Xin Keke meant Su Mi’s task for the day was half-finished. She skipped a few steps until she was in front of Xin Keke and blinked: “I want to ask you to dinner! It’s mealtime; let’s go eat something delicious together, okay?”

“…” Xin Keke said nothing.

“I know a soup dumpling shop that’s supposed to be amazing. Let’s go together?”

The butler had recommended it on the way back yesterday.

“I have things to do, go by yourself.” Su Mi was blocking the door, and Xin Keke couldn’t get past. She freed a hand and used her wrist to gently push Su Mi’s arm aside. “If there’s nothing else, leave. Don’t stay here; I’m busy.”

Whoa, why does she try to kick me out the moment she sees me?

Su Mi pouted but obediently moved aside to let Xin Keke into the room: “What are you busy with? Can I help?”

“No need.”

Xin Keke placed the bag on another vanity table, then stopped moving, staring fixedly at Su Mi: “Su Mi, I have work to do. Please leave.”

Despite being rejected several times, Su Mi wanted to try once more.

“Don’t look at me like this; I’m actually quite useful.” If hallucinations could manifest, Xin Keke would probably see a little tail wagging behind Su Mi right now. “Maybe I can help you with something?”

Xin Keke pursed her lips. That expression didn’t look like happiness; it looked like the silence before an explosion.

Su Mi wasn’t so unobservant that she couldn’t see this. She lowered her head dejectedly, her metaphorical tail drooping as she slunk toward the door: “Fine, fine. Since you don’t need me, forget it.”

She looked back at Xin Keke every three steps, while the other girl acted as if she was afraid Su Mi would do something terrible, guarding her bag and watching her warily.

Su Mi felt stung by that look. Without saying another word, she silently walked out the door.

Seriously! Even if she had a good temper, after cleaning up the original host’s messes so much and being treated so coldly by Xin Keke, she’d feel bad, okay!

She was fuming—she was definitely restarting the three-family-bucket plan tonight!!

However, just a moment before Su Mi closed the door, a sudden cry rang out from the room: “Ah!”

Su Mi pushed the door open without a second thought: “What happened?!”

She saw the wardrobe door in the makeup room wide open. Xin Keke was holding a designer dress, her expression one of shock.

Su Mi glanced at the dress and saw that the originally beautiful gown and the small shawl were covered in various stains.

In a flash of realization, Xia Lei’s awkward face from moments ago crossed Su Mi’s mind. She had a very bad feeling, but as she looked at Xin Keke and the dress, she found herself unable to speak.

Xin Keke suddenly clutched the dress tightly. She bit her lip and looked toward Su Mi with hatred.

That look seemed to say she wanted to tear Su Mi apart right then and there.

“It wasn’t me.”

Her mouth reacted faster than her brain. Catching Xin Keke’s gaze, Su Mi immediately knew what was going on: “I just ran into Xia Lei here; I don’t know if she…”

“Enough! If she did it, wasn’t it on your orders?” The moment she released her lip, Xin Keke’s lower lip was pale. “Have you seen enough of the show? Are you satisfied? Can you leave now?”

Heaven as my witness.

Original host, oh original host, look at the “good work” your lackeys are doing.

“Let me see.”

Su Mi walked quickly toward Xin Keke, wanting to take the dress to look at it. To her surprise, Xin Keke interpreted her action as trying to snatch the dress. She pushed Su Mi away violently: “Su Mi, don’t push us too far!”

Su Mi lost her footing and hit the mirror with a loud thud.

Her waist hit the corner of the vanity table.

Sharp pain shot through her lower back instantly. Su Mi sucked in a cold breath, clutching her waist, frozen in place for a moment, unable to get up.

Even in such a pathetic state, she didn’t forget to look up to see if the mirror had broken.

Thank goodness. The mirror only shook; it didn’t break. She wouldn’t have to pay for it.

Xin Keke hadn’t expected things to turn out like this. Her eyes were a bit red, and she stared at Su Mi in a daze.

But the hostility in her eyes was still strong.

“Hiss, it hurts… Xin Keke, you’ve got quite the grip…”

Su Mi grimaced.

“Sweetie, it really wasn’t me, believe me… I really just… ugh, saw Xia Lei coming out of here. You, hiss, can you let me see the dress first?”

Sigh, forget it. You can’t blame Xin Keke, can you?

Thinking from her perspective, if someone who had always tried to prank you suddenly became kind, you’d be wary too.

Su Mi finished speaking to Xin Keke in short bursts. Having recovered slightly, she slowly pulled herself away from the mirror and staggered a few steps toward Xin Keke.

Xin Keke pursed her lips and remained silent, but this time, she didn’t push her away.

Su Mi supported her waist and came to Xin Keke’s side. Ignoring her own pain, she hurriedly touched the stains on the dress.

They were still a bit damp; it looked like they had just been made.

The answer was obvious. Xia Lei likely held a grudge over yesterday’s events and, unable to mess with Su Mi, vented her anger on Xin Keke.

Su Mi just hadn’t expected Xia Lei to use such a low-level method. Please, at least use your brain.

By running into Su Mi like that, she practically announced who did it.

Su Mi reached a conclusion and was about to tell Xin Keke when she heard a very small, very fast sentence whispered in her ear:

“I’m sorry.”

Su Mi turned her head. Xin Keke kept her eyes down, not looking at her.